(09-11-2017 08:35 AM)Potomac Wrote:  

(09-11-2017 07:30 AM)Dadgum Wrote:  When they came to JMU in 2015, most of the staff and crew stayed like 30 minutes North somewhere on 81, I think it was Woodstock. Talking with some of them and they weren't too happy with the mothership for not booking something closer so they could stay around and enjoy Harrisonburg. Kirk and the boys stayed in town but the majority of folks were staying outside of town for some reason. Man I hope we get it again, such a fun time and now that we've had a chance to do it once, I expect we'll put on an even better show the second time around.

I'd imagine it was due to the last minute nature of their scheduling. They probably didn't start booking hotels until 5-6 days out and it was already homecoming weekend, I believe.

If they plan it earlier, they can potentially grab more hotels in town before others do.

I would assume it would be fairly common for hotels to be completely booked up in the locations they decide to go to, right? I mean I am sure every SEC town in America already has all of it's hotels booked up on football weekends long before Gameday decides whether they are coming to the game. I would say that between Gameday and Homecoming, Woodstock isn't that bad of a location considering how many people they probably had in their crew.

(09-11-2017 09:09 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(09-11-2017 08:35 AM)Potomac Wrote:  

(09-11-2017 07:30 AM)Dadgum Wrote:  When they came to JMU in 2015, most of the staff and crew stayed like 30 minutes North somewhere on 81, I think it was Woodstock. Talking with some of them and they weren't too happy with the mothership for not booking something closer so they could stay around and enjoy Harrisonburg. Kirk and the boys stayed in town but the majority of folks were staying outside of town for some reason. Man I hope we get it again, such a fun time and now that we've had a chance to do it once, I expect we'll put on an even better show the second time around.

I'd imagine it was due to the last minute nature of their scheduling. They probably didn't start booking hotels until 5-6 days out and it was already homecoming weekend, I believe.

If they plan it earlier, they can potentially grab more hotels in town before others do.

I would assume it would be fairly common for hotels to be completely booked up in the locations they decide to go to, right? I mean I am sure every SEC town in America already has all of it's hotels booked up on football weekends long before Gameday decides whether they are coming to the game. I would say that between Gameday and Homecoming, Woodstock isn't that bad of a location considering how many people they probably had in their crew.

excited for Hotel Madison to come online next year!

(09-11-2017 09:09 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  I would assume it would be fairly common for hotels to be completely booked up in the locations they decide to go to, right? I mean I am sure every SEC town in America already has all of it's hotels booked up on football weekends long before Gameday decides whether they are coming to the game. I would say that between Gameday and Homecoming, Woodstock isn't that bad of a location considering how many people they probably had in their crew.

A very good point. Maybe Harrisonburg doesn't have as many readily available hotel options compared to P5 towns though or major metro areas that some are located in? I would think so.

I'm not sure why so many of you are discounting Arkansas @ Alabama. It's been pointed out numerous times the competition's record means very little. It seems to me Alabama is the number one candidate.

(09-11-2017 11:38 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I'm not sure why so many of you are discounting Arkansas @ Alabama. It's been pointed out numerous times the competition's record means very little. It seems to me Alabama is the number one candidate.

It's possible they've penciled in Alabama for another week though. Say Tennessee at Alabama or LSU at Alabama. I think LSU at Alabama looks more interesting if they have a good year.

(09-11-2017 11:38 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I'm not sure why so many of you are discounting Arkansas @ Alabama. It's been pointed out numerous times the competition's record means very little. It seems to me Alabama is the number one candidate.

The matchup matters in FBS but not as much in FCS. If Arkansas went into that game undefeated then I could see them going there but they just got thumped by TCU.

They'll go to T-Town this year, but I would doubt it'd be for the Arkansas game. I agree that either TENN or LSU is much juicier.

I'm trying to will this to happen, I had such a great time in 2015, until kickoff that is.

As others have pointed out, Auburn/LSU is the biggest threat, followed by TCU/KSU.

Root against Auburn, root against LSU, root against VT (except when they play ODU).

(09-11-2017 07:30 AM)Dadgum Wrote:  When they came to JMU in 2015, most of the staff and crew stayed like 30 minutes North somewhere on 81, I think it was Woodstock. Talking with some of them and they weren't too happy with the mothership for not booking something closer so they could stay around and enjoy Harrisonburg. Kirk and the boys stayed in town but the majority of folks were staying outside of town for some reason. Man I hope we get it again, such a fun time and now that we've had a chance to do it once, I expect we'll put on an even better show the second time around.

A few of them stayed at Massanutten. My friend who works for an agency in Atlanta that is responsible for all of The Home Depot sports marketing spend, ran the hospitality portion of things. I lobbied hard for gameday to come for a week or two (texted him nightly) before gameday and as soon as it was announced he reached out to me to ask if I could help find a place to stay for him and his staff...I grew up in Massanutten and reached out to a connection I had to secure a condo for his group of employees (few interns, seasonal guys/gals). I'm not sure where all of the camera guys/setup breakdown staff (maybe they stayed in Woodstock)...But his group said it wasn't too bad of a drive from the Nut (maybe just being nice)...they still went out downtown and spoke highly of the Burgs atmosphere. I'll start blowing up his phone again as the Nova weekend gets closer.

(09-11-2017 07:22 AM)91Alum Wrote:  Does a stop in Blacksburg make it less likely they'd turn around and come right back two weeks later, or do we not think that would matter?

We might need one of them to get upset before that game. Come on, ECU!

I totally misread this this morning. I thought it was in consecutive weeks.

No, they'll come back 2 weeks later but obviously it doesn't hurt for them to not have come to VA at all prior to it. If they show up to Tech, it's because the game day crew honestly believes Tech has a real shot at knocking off Clemson. If it's not expected to be a contest, they'll skip it.

(09-11-2017 11:38 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I'm not sure why so many of you are discounting Arkansas @ Alabama. It's been pointed out numerous times the competition's record means very little. It seems to me Alabama is the number one candidate.

The Iron Bowl could be very compelling for Gameday this year. Auburn played tough against Clemson. ESPN might want to keep that open - even though the game is in Auburn this year.

(09-11-2017 07:25 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(09-11-2017 07:22 AM)91Alum Wrote:  

(09-10-2017 09:02 PM)RVAdukes Wrote:  Losses from auburn and OsU this weekend likely helped our cause; I hope ESPN would pick a more competitive matchup for Their annual trip to Alabama than Arkansas. Red river rivalry has lost a lot of luster over the years; if we keep playing well we have a decent shot at landing the second game day in three years in the 'burg - one thing to keep and eye on is if ESPN books hotel rooms in town in the next few . Apparently the four letter has booked 50 rooms in Blacksburg for the show down in a few weeks with Clemson.

Does a stop in Blacksburg make it less likely they'd turn around and come right back two weeks later, or do we not think that would matter?

We might need one of them to get upset before that game. Come on, ECU!

That means either ECU or ODU need to beat the hokies. Not sure which would be worse, ODU getting a win against VT, or the birds hosting gameday. I am hopeful that wouldn't play into their decision on JMU.

(09-11-2017 12:36 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(09-11-2017 07:22 AM)91Alum Wrote:  Does a stop in Blacksburg make it less likely they'd turn around and come right back two weeks later, or do we not think that would matter?

We might need one of them to get upset before that game. Come on, ECU!

I totally misread this this morning. I thought it was in consecutive weeks.

No, they'll come back 2 weeks later but obviously it doesn't hurt for them to not have come to VA at all prior to it. If they show up to Tech, it's because the game day crew honestly believes Tech has a real shot at knocking off Clemson. If it's not expected to be a contest, they'll skip it.

We'll see, but I don't think VT's chances will be factored in to it very much. I don't think we'll even really know how good my Hokies are by that point, given we won't have played many meaningful games yet. If Clemson and VT are both 4-0 that week, I think it's very likely that they'll show up given it will probably be a top-3 versus top-15 matchup.

Gameday hasn't been to Blacksburg in 10 years, and some involved with the production over the years have stated how much Frank Beamer & Virginia Tech meant to propelling Gameday forward (Chris Fowler comes to mind) - given both Frank & Lee Corso's advancing ages, I wouldn't be shocked if they take it as an opportunity to get them together on that stage.

All that said, I don't think VT getting Gameday on 9/30 has much bearing at all on whether JMU gets it on 10/14. More than anything, Villanova needs to be a 1-loss team at that point.

I doubt VT has any impact on it. Last year they went to Bristol, TN for a Vols game and then went back to Knoxville, TN two weeks later. 2014 they went to Tallahassee then went back a month later, and also went to Tuscaloosa for Auburn at Alabama just two weeks after going to Tuscaloosa for Mississippi State at Alabama. Plenty more examples if I keep going back further. Doesn't seem like they're nearly as worried about variety as they are about just picking the best spot each week.

I think our main concern is Auburn at LSU. Cheer hard for the Gators homecoming.

Speaking of VT, their Coach Fuentes on us regarding ECU's 0-2 start:

“I know probably much will be made about East Carolina’s start,” Hokies coach Justin Fuente said Monday. “I can tell you they played two really, really quality opponents. I know there are not a lot of people in America running to their AD’s asking for James Madison to get on the schedule. I can promise you that. That’s a fine football team."

(09-11-2017 02:51 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  Speaking of VT, their Coach Fuentes on us regarding ECU's 0-2 start:

“I know probably much will be made about East Carolina’s start,” Hokies coach Justin Fuente said Monday. “I can tell you they played two really, really quality opponents. I know there are not a lot of people in America running to their AD’s asking for James Madison to get on the schedule. I can promise you that. That’s a fine football team."

He knows, 21-16!

(09-11-2017 04:45 PM)JMUTrippster Wrote:  

(09-11-2017 02:51 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  Speaking of VT, their Coach Fuentes on us regarding ECU's 0-2 start:

“I know probably much will be made about East Carolina’s start,” Hokies coach Justin Fuente said Monday. “I can tell you they played two really, really quality opponents. I know there are not a lot of people in America running to their AD’s asking for James Madison to get on the schedule. I can promise you that. That’s a fine football team."

He knows, 21-16!

On this date, 7 years ago today! We certainly, will never forget.
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another one to watch:

Utah at USC

if Utah beats Stanford at home the week before, this could be a clash of two unbeatens with plenty of storylines....USC, Heisman front-runner.

I think getting to VU undefeated will be a little more challenging than some of you expect. I suspect Maine and/or Delaware could be closer games than some suspect.

I think Gameday likes to have an FCS each year. That we had one just two years ago may not benefit us, but since it's already confirmed they have interest in the VU game....

@BridgeforthSons on twitter...